You first joined the company in 2016, but you mentioned you rejoined last year. Can you walk us through that journey? I originally joined the mid-office operations team in 2016. Back then, it was me and Richard running operations, we were a small team running our own FX hedging. We didn’t even have a proper operations system—everything was in one Excel file! It was a bit chaotic but that’s what I liked about it. There’s a funny story about how we used to collaborate on the same document—except only one of us had the live version, while the other was unknowingly stuck in read-only mode. And, of course, that unlucky person was me. Multiple times. So, while my colleague was making real progress, I was essentially writing a heartfelt practice version… only to realize I had to start over from scratch. A great lesson in teamwork—and in always checking your access settings before getting too excited!

You were part of the risk team as well, right? Yes around 2018-2020, ACT asked me to join the newly formed risk team. I helped with the structuring and handling activities there, after some time I transitioned to Group Control as a Business Analyst. What made you leave after six years? It wasn’t so much about leaving but more about timing. After six years, I felt the timing wasn’t right for my evolution within the company.

So how did you end up coming back? For a first experience, it’s easy to imagine the grass being greener somewhere else. I spent a year as a risk manager consultant for pension funds, only to find the role far more tedious than I ever anticipated. Funny enough, ACT reached out and asked if I’d be interested in returning to Operations with a different perspective to it, the timing was right this time. I figured, why not? I’ve taken on the role of Business Expert. I’m involved in three big strategic projects, so I have more room to make an impact, I like to be part of something that is growing, strategize on how the future processes could look for operations, think of how to improve our ways of working. How have you evolved in in your approach to work since you first started?     The market has matured quite a bit—there’s more transparency now and it’s great to see it move forward this way. I’ve also become more mature in how I approach things. I like to ask myself, ‘Do I like what I’m doing right now?’ It’s a question that keeps me grounded. There are so many opportunities to specialize and become an expert in a particular area, which I find exciting.

So, what’s next for you? Right now, I’m focused on making an impact through the global projects I’m involved in. We are in the process of reframing a lot of things in the way we work and shaping the future of Operations for the next five to ten years, harmonizing and modernizing processes with high standards and customer-centric approach.

Finally, any advice for someone looking to grow in their career here? Keep your eyes open and take initiatives—there are opportunities everywhere if you look for them. The sky’s the limit. But make sure you’re sharp and find a balance with life. With ideas and vision, you can always find ways of evolving.